PROPOSED REMOVALS

The [Forum] meeting on the 19th of March 2015, at Marloth Park, where the proposed 2015 game removals for Marloth Park was discussed, refer.

The meeting agreed that a significant reduction of game numbers on Marloth Park is essential in order to limit the grazing impact on vegetation. As part of the discussion, the aerial census results and the ground count results were considered, and an agreement was reached wrt number of animals per species at the end of 2014, prior to the lambing/calving season. These agreed totals were used to calculate the projected totals for 2015.

The stocking rate calculations indicate that the projected stocking rate of 4 ha/Animal Unit will significantly exceed the recommended stocking rate of 8 ha/AU. The meeting agreed on the following game removals:

MARLOTH PARK: 2015 Game management recommendations

Species

Agreed totals – end 2014

Projected totals 2015

Recommended removals

Giraffe

36

40

20

Kudu

58

67

30

Zebra

42

48

25

Warthog

150

195

150

Wildebeest

40

47

25

Impala

520

624

550

The proposed removals will improve the stocking rate to 11 ha/AU. These removals will reduce the stocking rate to such an extent that some recovery of the graze and browse resources would be possible.

(Although no removals for the Lionspruit area are proposed, please note that it should be considered in 2016.)